About the diy van build course
Build Your Own Dream Van With Whatever Experience You Have
Turn your van into a rolling adventure mobile while saving time, money and a whole lot of stress
- 200+ Guided step-by-step video tutorials
- 50+ Downloadable blueprints, diagrams, 3D designs and resources
- Supportive community access
- 1 on 1 video consultation with tutor
What's in the course
200+ Detailed Video turotials
Detailed and easy-to-understand video tutorials on every aspect of the van conversion process
Every step of the process
From electrical to insulation, we will teach you the fundamentals you need to build your van
Additional Course Material
You will also receive diagrams, schematics, 3D models and calculators to help you to design your perfect van
Lifetime
Access
A one-time payment will give you lifetime access to the most comprehensive van build course
But that's not all...
Video Consultation
with your instructor
During or after the course, if you still have more questions and you just need someone to answer them face to face, you will receive an exclusive 30 minute video consultation with us, expert van builders, worth $60
Access to the student
community and teacher
You will receive exclusive access to the community support group where students in the course can ask questions, access support and get feedback throughout the course
Meet your instructor
I’m Marcel, and over the last 6 years, I have converted 3 vans on 3 different continents and spent the better part of that living and travelling the world in our vans. Since then, through my van build consultancy services and YouTube series, I have helped thousands of DIYers like you convert your own van into the home on wheels of your dreams.
As the son of a mechanic, I grew up in a workshop, designing, building and tinkering with everything and anything. The strive to create got me into engineering where I completed an Engineering degree and worked as an Engineer for over 10 years.
This course is designed to help everyone with any level of DIY experience to convert their own van with confidence. The guided video tutorials and downloadable material have all the information you need in one place so you can rest easy knowing you have the support of an experienced instructor throughout your build process.
The Course Structure
Module 1 - Introduction
1.1 Welcome to the course
1.2 The Demo Van- Van Tour Video
1.3 Downloads
Module 2 - Van Choice and Selection
2.1 Types of vans
2.2 Legal and insurance considerations
2.3 Choosing your van
2.4 Buying a van
2.5 What to look for when inspecting a prospective van
Module 3 - Preparation and Planning
3.1 How will you use your van
3.2 Bed configurations
3.3 What living space do I want?
3.4 What do you need for your van lifestyle?
3.5 How much storage do I need?
3.6 What will you add to your roof space?
3.7 Where will you travel?
3.8 Legal considerations
3.9 Van build questionnaire
3.10 Popular van layouts
3.11 Designing the interior layout
3.12 Camper van design software
3.13 Conversion cost
3.14 Money saving tips
3.15 Budget tracker
Module 4 - Insulation and Ventilation
4.1 A crash course in insulation theory
4.2 Windows and ventilation
4.3 Air conditioning
Module 5 - Electrical Systems and preparation
5.1 Crash course electrical
5.2 Wire sizing
5.3 Fuses
5.4 Solar system
5.5 Alternate charging methods
5.6 House battery banks
5.7 Inverters
5.8 Sizing your electrical system
5.9 Choosing your fridge
5.10 Electric Cooking
Module 6 - Gas Systems
6.1 Gas system overview
6.2 Legalities
6.3 Common gas appliances for a campervan
6.4 The nitty gritty gas rules
6.5 Gas fittings
6.6 Gas regulators
6.7 Safety precautions
6.8 Optional extras
Module 7 - Plumbing and Water Systems
7.1 Water system overview
7.2 Fresh Water systems
7.3 Grey Water systems
7.4 Black water systems
Module 8 - Tools for Van Conversions
8.1 Power tools
8.2 Hand tools
8.3 Consumables
8.4 PPE and safety equipment
Build Phase 1 - Holes in the van
9.1 Van preparation
9.2 Roof vent
9.3 Additional windows
9.4 External gas appliances
Build Phase 2 - Roof Rack and Solar
10.1 DIY roof rack build
10.2 DIY ladder build
10.3 Solar panel installation
10.4 Solar entry gland
10.5 Rooftop deck
Build Phase 3 - Insulation and Subfloor
11.1 Sound deadener
11.2 Subfloor and floor insulation
11.3 Subfloor insulation
11.4 Subfloor installation
11.5 Wheel arch boxes
11.6 Wall and ceiling insulation
11.7 Visualising your design
Build Phase 4 - Subframe Installation
12.1 Wall furring strips
12.2 Bed extension framing
Build Phase 5 - Gas System and Heating
13.1 Gas pipe installations
13.2 Diesel heater installation
Build Phase 6 - Water Tanks
14.1 Water level gauges
14.2 Water tank installation
14.3 Tubing pre-run
Build Phase 7 - Electrical System
15.1 Wiring your van
15.2 Running your cables
15.3 Electrical board
15.4 Bus bar
15.5 Leisure battery and monitor shunt
15.6 Wiring the switch panel and fuse box
15.7 Wiring your fridge
15.8 Connecting the DC to DC charger
15.9 Invertor installation
15.10 Mains sockets
15.11 Connecting LED lights
15.12 Testing your system
Build Phase 8 - Carpentry
16.1 Installing walls
16.2 Installing auto carpet
16.3 Installing ceiling cladding
16.4 Installing wall cladding
16.5 Rear door cladding
16.6 Bulk head installation
16.7 Bulkhead storage
16.8 Finishing and painting walls
16.9 Carpentry
16.10 Custom kitchen unit
16.11 Overhead cabinets
16.12 Bed build
16.13 Dining table
16.14 Rear storage
16.15 Bench seats
16.16 Shower build
16.17 Hard wood floor
16.18 DIY timber moulding
16.19 LED cabinet lights
Build Phase 9 - Finishing Touches
17.1 Kitchen tiling
17.2 Rear pull out deck
17.3 Upholstery and cushions
17.4 Filling gaps
17.5 Window trims
17.6 Roller blinds
17.7 LED lights
17.8 Hanging plant
17.9 Planter box
17.10 Hat and ukulele holder
17.11 Secondary fan
17.12 Magnetic window curtain
17.13 Projector
17.14 Mirror and plant holder
17.15 Spice rack
BUILD PHASE 10 - LEGAL CAMPERVAN CONVERSION
18.1 Commissioning the electric and gas system (Legal Conversion)
BUILD PHASE 11 - EXTRAS
19.1 Awnings
19.2 Removable Flyscreens
19.3 Surfboard Racks
19.4 Security Systems
19.5 Super Springs Suspension Upgrade
19.6 Extra Driving lights (LED light bar/Spotlights)
Bonus Material
As part of the course you will also get access to bonus material worth over $1200
- Detailed plumbing diagrams (worth $28)
- Detailed electrical diagram (worth $28)
- Detailed gas diagrams (worth $28)
- Lifetime Community access (worth $400)
- Pre-fabricated scale 3D Models you can customise (worth $500)
- Van floor plans (worth $50)
- 46 page van build step by step E-book (worth $67)
- Complete cost breakdowns (worth $20)
- Shopping lists (worth $40)
- Electrical system calculator (worth $20)
- Van build budget tracker (worth $30)
- 1-1 consultation (worth $60)
What will you get out of this course?
Master the Build
Learn everything from electrical system design and installation, to plumbing systems, insulation and ventilation, with clear explanations and expert guidance.
Save Time & Money
Avoid costly mistakes by learning from experienced van builders. Our course provides valuable tips and tricks to save you money on materials and labour and speed up your build time,
DIY or Delegate
Whether you want to tackle the entire build yourself or need help with specific aspects, our course equips you with the knowledge to make informed decisions.
Lifetime Access & Updates
Get unlimited access to all course materials, including future updates and bonus content, so your van build stays on-trend.
What students are saying
I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in van building, whether you're a beginner like me who is looking to improve your knowledge to successfully outsource aspects of your build to professionals like I am doing, and it would also be useful for people who are already handy themselves and just looking for guidance to refine their plans and skills to self build.
I'm outfitting a 2018 Ford Transit high roof, 148" van. Before actually getting the van, I was watching all kinds of DIY videos on everything from flooring to electrical. Then I came across some of Marcel's how-to videos and liked his ability to teach and explain how to do things in a concise manner. Following Salty Vanventures, I discovered he put together a whole course, Vanbuild Academy, so I signed up. My van will be for week long adventures so my build won't be super complex, but Marcel's course covers everything you could possibly want, no matter what level of build, and does it in a step-by-step way with cost saving suggestions. I'm still early in my build but it has been fun to go through different modules and work on my design. If you're building a van, I'd recommend Vanbuild Academy as a source of guidance, inspiration, and confidence in what you can do yourself. I wish I had more time to put into my van!! It's so much fun.
"I've been fortunate to trial this course over the last 2 months and I couldn't be happier with Vanbuild Academy so far! Marcel's expertise is second to none. His step-by-step tutorials made even the most complex van build tasks feel manageable. I loved how he broke down everything into easy-to-follow steps, and his attention to detail was incredible. Thanks to Marcel, I was able to transform my old van into the cozy home I've always dreamed of. Highly recommend this course to anyone looking to embark on their own van build journey!"
"I am about half way through the course and it has been just what I have been looking for. Marcel arranged my consultancy session with minimal communication effort, was straightforward and quite flexible with the timing. Professional advice is gold before stepping into a costly van conversion journey. Marcel with extensive experience knowing different types of vans, the Australian lifestyle and the environment provided valuable advice on van selection and conversions"
One time Payment
$725 AUD
$547 AUD
Limited time discount
Hurry Discount Ends In:
Enrol now and get access to the course and content immediately
- 200+ Professionally filmed and edited video tutorials
- 50+ Downloadable plans, schematics and calculators
- Bonus material worth over $1200
- Access to Community Support
- Access for life
- 30 min Video Consultation
YOUR TIME IS MONEY
Did you know the average first-time van conversion takes between 6-9 months?
That’s a huge chunk of your time. This course guides you through proven fast-building methods to achieve your highest quality finish so you can get on the road fast.
FAQ
Yes! This course is designed to teach you how to build a van no matter where you are in the world. There are some more specific tricks and tips for Australian builders but no matter where you live, you will find this course the perfect help to building your own van.
All appliances and hardware used throughout the course are communally available worldwide.
This course is tailored to help any van builder of any size from small vans to even busses. As the principles to converting a van are the same no matter the size, the tutorials are designed to guide you through the process from designing your van, all the way to the final finishing touches and everything in between.
The very best time to enrol in the course is before you buy a van as this course guides you through the whole process, starting with advice on finding and buying a quality van so that you don’t end up with a lemon.
That said, in general, this course is perfect for anyone in the early stages of their build. If you have perhaps already started your conversion and looking for ways to improve your build, speed up the process or save money, then this course will be a big help in guiding you to complete your van.
This is also a popular way to progress through the course. Students want to have all the knowledge under their belt before starting the build. Because you have lifetime access, you can always go back through the course again at your own pace when you have your van.
Throughout this course there are countless tips and tricks on ways to save you a tonne of money and time while you convert your van. Remember time is money!
If you follow my tips, I guarantee you that through taking this course you will save more money than what you paid to enrol in the course.
Yes, I created this course after completing multiple conversions myself. I have done all the trial and error and made all the costly timely mistakes already so you don’t have to.
Additionally, there are tonnes of downloadable materials from floorplans, diagrams, schematics, 3D models, calculators and even materials lists which will save you weeks researching every step along the way. You will receive everything from my online shop plus much more exclusive content
Once you enrol you will be able to start the course immediately. This is a self-directed online course, so you can go through the course at your own pace.
This course doesn’t just teach you how to build a van. The lessons are methodically created to first go through the essential theoretical aspects of the conversion process so that you can understand exactly what you are doing when you begin building.
By the end of the course, you should be able to design your own van in a free 3D modelling software, design your own electrical and plumbing setups, create a budget tracker, and then build the entire build to a legal and high standard.